The United States National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, revealed this Saturday new details about the moment he informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he had to leave the White House following a tense confrontation in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump. After the heated discussion, Zelensky abruptly left the premises without signing the economic agreement for the exploitation of Ukrainian rare earth minerals by the United States.
In an interview with Fox News, Waltz explained that after the incident, which was broadcast live on television, both delegations withdrew to separate rooms. It was then that Waltz, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials, advised Trump that after the clash in the Oval Office, any attempt to move forward with the negotiations would be futile. “We simply didn’t see how it could progress; any further commitment would only set us back,” Waltz stated.
Waltz himself was tasked with conveying to Zelensky that he was no longer welcome. According to the advisor, the Ukrainian president did not seem aware of the gravity of the situation. “No, he didn’t. Frankly, his team did. His ambassador and advisor were practically on the verge of tears, wanting the negotiations to continue. But Zelensky kept arguing,” he recounted.
At that moment, Waltz delivered a direct message to Zelensky: “Time is not on your side. Not on the battlefield, not in the global context, and most importantly, U.S. aid and taxpayers’ patience are not unlimited,” the advisor recalled.
According to Waltz, Zelensky did not fully grasp that there was a shift in the White House’s stance. “He hasn’t gotten the message that there’s a new sheriff in town. This is a new president, and we are determined to take a different approach to peace,” he asserted.
Trump and Zelensky were scheduled to sign an agreement at the White House on Friday regarding the joint exploitation of Ukrainian mineral resources, considered a key step towards a future peace pact between Kyiv and Moscow. However, the strong disagreement between the two leaders thwarted the signing of the document.
As a result of the confrontation, the joint lunch planned by the two leaders was also canceled, along with the subsequent press conference.
